Grateful Dead Live at Merriweather Post Pavilion on 1985-06-30
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- Publication date
- 1985-06-30 ( check for other copies)
- Topics
- Soundboard, Charlie Miller
- Collection
- GratefulDead
- Band/Artist
- Grateful Dead
- Resource
- DeadLists Project
d1t01 - Tuning
d1t02 - Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo ->
d1t03 - C C Rider
d1t04 - Brown Eyed Women
d1t05 - Mama Tried ->
d1t06 - Mexicali Blues
d1t07 - Keep On Growing ->
d1t08 - Big Railroad Blues ->
d1t09 - Looks Like Rain ->
d1t10 - Don't Ease Me In
Set 2:
d1t11 - Tuning
d1t12 - Shakedown Street ->
d1t13 - Samson And Delilah
d2t01 - Gimme Some Lovin' ->
d2t02 - He's Gone ->
d2t03 - Cryptical Envelopment ->
d2t04 - Drums ->
d2t05 - Space ->
d2t06 - The Other One ->
d2t07 - Stella Blue ->
d2t08 - Around And Around ->
d2t09 - Sugar Magnolia
Encore:
d2t10 - U.S. Blues
Related Music question-dark
Versions - Different performances of the song by the same artist
Compilations - Other albums which feature this performance of the song
Covers - Performances of a song with the same name by different artists
Song Title | Versions | Compilations | Covers |
---|---|---|---|
Tuning | |||
Mississippi Half Step Uptown Toodeloo -> | |||
C.C. Rider | |||
Brown Eyed Women | |||
Mama Tried -> | |||
Mexicali Blues | |||
Keep On Growing -> | |||
Big Railroad Blues -> | |||
Looks Like Rain -> | |||
Don't Ease Me In | |||
Tuning | |||
Shakedown Street -> | |||
Samson And Delilah | |||
Gimme Some Lovin' -> | |||
He's Gone -> | |||
Cryptical Envelopment -> | |||
Drums -> | |||
Space -> | |||
The Other One -> | |||
Stella Blue -> | |||
Around And Around -> | |||
Sugar Magnolia | |||
U.S. Blues |
Notes
-- Disc change is seamless
-- Two SBD Cassette Masters were used to make this show complete
-- Many flaws have been fixed but PA static still remains
-- There is no channel swapping on this source
-- It sounds like there was some prior processing done to the discs
-- This recording is for from perfect but it's still the best I've heard
-- Thanks to Joe B. Jones for his help with the pitch correction
- Access-restricted-item
- true
- Addeddate
- 2007-12-23 14:25:40
- Identifier
- gd1985-06-30.sbd.miller.89192.sbeok.flac16
- Lineage
- CD -> Samplitude Professional v9.12 -> Cool Edit Pro v2.0 -> FLAC
- Location
- Columbia, MD
- Run time
- 148
- Transferred by
- Charlie Miller
- Type
- sound
- Year
- 1985
comment
Reviews
Subject: Amazing to see how excited people get ...
This show starts out well with a strong Half-Step, although, even here, the shortness of the song and the fast tempo make it feel rushed compared to the long, slow-building versions of the 70's. But for 85, it's very good. So is C.C. Rider. After that come a bunch of uninteresting songs and then setbreak.
The second set starts out with another huge highlight. This Shakedown St. would rank high in any era. Samson follows, not one of my favorites, but OK, well-played. But then comes He's Gone, a real snoozer of a song, and unlike in the early 80's when you'd get a barn-burner of an outro jam, here you get some vocal warbling and then a quick transition into Cryptical.
Now I like a good Cryptical as much as anyone, but the 85 versions aren't it. Maybe if they'd done the Cryptical reprise with a full-on peaking jam like in '69. However, the Other One intro > Other One proper is a definite highlight. I always looked forward to an Other One (sadly, got none after '88 {sigh}), and this is a barnburner. That leads into Stella, which could either be a borefest or a blissful ecstacy ride depending on Jerry. This falls into the latter category, with Jerry's gorgeous solos providing the eargasm.
There's some really good music in this show, just not enough of it, and never reaching the heights of the 60's and 70's. A solid, 3 star mid-80's show.
Subject: RE: Who's playing during CC Rider at...
Subject: Sunday Night Special
I was all of 10 years old when my family moved from Boston into Columbia, Maryland, about half-mile from Merriweather Post Pavilion, and barely two weeks after this show, in July, 1985. At that time it was possible to walk from our house to the parking lot in less than 5 minutes, and despite the development which has changed the landscape since, many summers were spent on the back porch getting a free listen to the bands playing at MPP. I recall the buzz around the neighborhood was electric with stories of deadheads descending on this small corner of the earth; VW bus traffic jams, hippies fornicating in Symphony Woods, bathing in the fountains at the nearby mall, and raucously partying all night long. The band was asked not to come back - for egregiously violating the established 11pm noise curfew - and they never did [Jerry Garcia Band would return in the late 80s]. I missed the show, but I was hooked on the legend!
Fast forward to the 90s, I was able to catch a show in-person at RFK stadium in 1994, but I wasn't really impressed with anything except the parking lot scene. That all changed when I arrived at college in Ohio and befriended a young man by the name of Jeremy Granick. Hundreds of miles from home, I had met a friend from my area and we grew tight driving to/from school for breaks. His prize possession, among many other tapes, was Set II from THIS show. We wore that tape out, feeding our heads full of Jerry's Fingers blotter paper and tasty nugs. I really started to LISTEN to the music and I loved it.
Then, March 15, 2000, just 2 months before graduation and almost exactly 21 years ago now, Jeremy was killed in a horrible car accident. I have lived through many traumatic events; was working in downtown Manhattan on September 11, 2001 and survived the WTC disaster... but there really is nothing in this world like losing a best friend. The Stella Blue performance from this show was played at his memorial service. My "inheritance" included his collection of tapes and I have kept them close ever since. My musical taste is comprehensive. On a given day I might go from Aretha to Zeppelin and every genre in between, but I always come back to The Dead. The tapes are all safely packed away, but I try my best to wear out the digital copies just the same.
With all that said, to set the stage so-to-speak, this is an absolutely incredible show, with an amazing energy! I beg you all to stop and listen and enjoy as I have all these years. Anyone familiar with this archive will know that Charlie Miller is nothing short of brilliant, and his attention to delivering a quality aural experience with this particular show is much appreciated. Not only can you hear that the band is in great voice, but the crowd seems to be really feeling it too - all those hippies in the woods!
Very few misses, but oh so many highlights. I'm willing to concede there *might* be a better Shakedown Street somewhere out there, but I haven't heard it, and the performances of Samson and Sugar Magnolia are also absolutely top notch. Not only that, but the rare treat of Cryptical Envelopment -> Drums -> Space -> The Other One is excellent compared to so many recordings where these tracks fall flat without the benefit of "being there, man".
That brings us to He's Gone and Stella Blue. They are both so tender and soulfully played with incredible audience response. You can understand that I might have a special affection for these songs, as many do, and I can honestly say that I have searched far and wide for better versions and found very few that can match up. These are both GOLD STANDARD Grateful Dead. Performances for the ages by which all others can be compared. Easy five stars for me. Play it loud on the nearest wall of sound and see for yourself!
Rest in Peace Jeremy, I promise the music will never stop.
Subject: Epic 2 nights
If you don't like this you don't like the Grateful Dead. I prefer the next night but it's by a canadian hare Lol. Both shows were some of the best that 1985 had to offer!! Bobby/Jerry/Phil were just getting off at Merriweather this summer 2 night run.
Subject: This is one SICK show!
Subject: Who's playing during CC Rider at...
Subject: Brent
Subject: Watch me pull a rabbit out of my ass..
Subject: Don't get no better
Subject: Shakedown
Subject: Easy one
PS I miss everyone.
Subject: It was the best of times
Subject: one of the best shows ever in dc metro
keep on growin' helped move the show into overdrive along with a killer LLR in set one
second set opener the epic shakedown and the rest is all five star loveliness and power.
was at this show and in my top 10-20 of 150+ shows for all around fun and show quality.
Subject: Thank you Charlie Miller
Subject: Merry Weather
Subject: Summer of 85 Rocked
Subject: tight band summer of '85
Subject: groovin'
Subject: Nothin's shakin' on Shakedown Street...
Subject: DNA BUT WID
I personally feel this is a strong year for the GD overall and one of the strongest of the '80's.
At any rate, I agree with whomever wrote this show is overlooked. There is much to this show.
The Fun or X factor is through the roof. The first set (as was the case in most of '85) is well executed, but short.
The second set HAS to be in the top 4 or 5 that year.
11/1 was certainly more unique in song choice and placement; and Saratoga was unbeievable.
But Shakedown>Samson rocks. Put it on turn it up and just take it in. The Gimmie Some Lovin's definitely finds itself at an odd place in the rotation. But it works, esp b/c Jerry delivers a He's Gone>Cryptical gem afterwards. Many have commented that the band never seemed to quite "get" Cryptical to the point where you went "they nailed it". But the dare to revive it, and the placement of it see 6/25 and 9/3 is certainly worth the effort.
Post drumz has a great Other One (I always thought that song should scare - ok maybe that is not the right word) but make you tremble - and this one does.
Hard to compete in a year that started so strong in Philly, Nassau, Springfield. The Fall run was also incredible.
But Merriweather should be in anyone's top 5 in my humble opinion.
Enjoy and God Bless
5 stars
Subject: To each his own...
Subject: the boys in 85
Subject: I normally like summer 85 shows but...
Subject: One of the best shows from '85
The first set starts off with a rousing Half Step. Jerry belts out the Rio Grandio line. C.C. Rider follows and it includes an incredible bluesy final jam. Brown Eyed women follows and while not the best version it is well played and sung with lots of energy. After some Bobby cowboy songs they bust out an incredible version of Keep on Growing. This is full of enthusiasm and energy and is the best version I've heard. Looks Like Rain is another highlight followed by a decent Don't Ease.
Set two gets going with an incredible Shakedown Street. Many people site this as one of the best versions ever and it deserves the praise. A long extended funky jam featuring great soloing and group improv. This segues into a scorching Samson but Jerry's playing seems a bit off rhythm. Gimme Some Lovin' brings back the energy followed by an excellent jam that finishes the set. He's Gone is well played and soulful with a nice vocal jam that segues into Cryptical, always a great surprise! The Other One that comes out of Space in excellent segueing into a beautiful rendition of Stella. One of the better later versions of the song. Sugar Mags closes out the show with incredible energy.
Subject: Cliff, you were not there.
Subject: More junk from '85
I was there as well but I cant listen to this...
In spite of brilliant Charlie Miller sound quality, this is just more junk from 1985!
Subject: Charlie Miller is GD's 5th Beatle
matrix of this show can be found at:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1985-06-30.mtx.seamons.94642.sbeok.flac16
i never really got into Matrix mixes but to each his own..
when it comes to re-mastering, there's Charlie Miller and then there's everybody else.
performance is 5-star as well.
Subject: PeopleSayThisShowRocked
1st listening not what I expected...think recording will grow on me ... Some good jams for me to pick guitar with (eg: CCRider, Shakedown, Space >OtherOne very cool)...I know band and audience were cooking together 'cause I listened to audience recorded version before this one...goal: find another version(soundboard w/audience)
Subject: THIS is the one!
but i believe something else, too.......mostly from my years of dancing in DJ-tape playing venues AFTER Jerry flew the coop.......and i don't just believe it, i actually know it for a FACT:
if you were at ANY shows..........you were at EVERY show
and if you have any sense at all......you still ARE
Subject: Lovin' summer '85
Subject: Merri F'n Weather
This show and the night after were heaven on earth.
It was the 20th birthday year and everything seemed happy, even with Jerry in Red. Not a bad time to be 25, footloose and fancy free.
My second favorite Shakedown to 7-6-97 Pittsburgh......
Take a long listen to He's Gone and Stella too. Both are so crisp.
Subject: insanity
Subject: One of 85's Best
As everyone has mentioned, the Shakedown is awesome. Not as good as 10/25/79, but it's up there. And not always talked about, but this Drums>Space is great. In Space at about 4:01 > 4:30 the aliens are actually trying to communicate. I've caught this maybe on only one other occasion, date forgotton. Grt follow up with The Other One, which by the end finally brings us back down to earth. Sugar Mag also very good. Overall an easy 5.
Subject: yup yup
Subject: Rippin' Shakedown...
Subject: Shakedown
Subject: Bobby.....Bobby.....BOOM!!!!!!
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